Customer Reviews

3rd Album

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The deceptively titled 3RD Album, as they recorded one before 1969's At Home without Miriska, is another really good disc of music from this multifaceted band. Though often called a pop group, and they certainly cranked out some brilliant pop songs, that label sells this band short. Their albums are always an eclectic mix of styles, and this effort is no exception.

While I find this effort inferior to its predecessor, Scorpio's Dance, I still couldn't bring myself to rate this less than 5 stars. Composer and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Van Leeuwen continued to crank out top notch songs, from the hard rocking opener Shocking You, to beautiful ballads like Velvet Heaven, to fun pop/rock on Love Sweet Love. There's the country/blue grass trilogy of Simon Lee/ Serenade/ and Don't You See, to the rockin' Bird Of Paradise. Moonlight Night is an interesting song with unique guitar signatures and uncountry banjo plucking. Sleepless At Midnight is another slower rocker with some great vocal harmonies and pop hooks. Robbie turns in some nice harmonica and laid back guitar. Album closer I'll Follow The Sun is one of Robbie's old songs from his early band The Motions. It has kind of a cool almost Dick Dale sounding surf guitar line. The only cover this time around, Reggis Mull's I Saw Your Face, features male lead vocals, excellent harmonies from Mariska, and an almost California 60's pop sound.

Quite a mix by this under rated, under appreciated band. As always Mariska Veres turns in a high quality vocal performance, and the talented rhythm section of Cornelius Van Der Beek on drums and Klassje Van Der Wal on bass (this would be his last studio album with the group, moving on to bass duties with the excellent Earth & Fire). Robbie Van Leeuwen on any and all other instruments you hear on this disc. Six excellent bonus cuts from earlier singles, and Repertoire Records usual high standards for sound quality and packaging. Another gem for the collection.

While Shocking Blue is one of my favorite bands, this album is not for you unless you are a die-hard Shocking Blue fan.